Mercury Retrograde and the 4-hour workday

We have Mercury Retrograde ánd eclipse season — all in one period.Boy, that's undoubtedly stirring things up.

I have been experiencing a lot of technical issues on the one hand, but on the other hand, something is in the air, and you can feel it: it's like we're all been tested by the Universe to see how grounded and determined we are.

If you're not feeling too confident, be aware of the floor coming towards your face.

I hit the floor several times in the past few weeks. Not intentionally, of course. And I got back on my feet again and again. Pfew, what a ride!

I've been struggling with eating away my emotions, and at the same time made some compelling and positive changes in my diet.

I've been struggling with gaining weight, and at the same time, I managed to exercise three times a week and go for daily walks.

And I've been struggling with working too hard for poor results, which was frustrating me so much that I almost called it quits, but at the same time I invented the 4-hour workday which gave me the opportunity to manage my energy levels ánd made me very productive ( = created an audio training on pricing in 5 days time).

Mercury entered retrograde motion on July 7, 2019, and it will last up to July 31, 2019. It looks like Mercury is going backward (which is an illusion), and therefore, the retrograde is associated with confusion, delay, and frustration. Think messed up plans, pure chaos, and miscommunication.

But it doesn't end on the 31st of July, because the second shadow phase lasts until the 15th of August when Mercury leaves the retrograde zone.

Mercury retrograde can be an excellent time to take a step back and reanalyze who you are and what you are doing—but do refrain from making any drastic changes until after retrograde has ended.

Mercury retrograde asks of us to reflect on the past, both on your own actions as in the actions and motives of others. It's a time to decipher your truth and be conscious of what is not feeling truthful to you.

What is important to you to feel connected?Who are you? And does that match your past and current behavior?

If your Human Design Authority is Emotional - Solar Plexus (50% of the world's population), with Mercury Retrograde and everything that is going on eclipse-wise, it's possible that it'll take more time to let emotions pass through you, before you find clarity to make conscious decisions.

You can also experience an overall feeling of not finding your safe place because of the chaotic energy going around. So it's an excellent time to meditate and ground yourself, for self-care and self-reflection.

I'm wearing a citrine close to my heart because this crystal helps me ground and make decisions from a space of emotional security and confidence. Citrine is like vitamin D for the soul: it emanates positivity and joy (also an excellent crystal to wear in dark winter times).

Right before Mercury went retrograde, I was experiencing symptoms of exhaustion. For me, it was crucial to listen to the whispers of my body, because the whispering went to speaking volume at that time. I never want my body to have to shout, ever again, so it was time to listen up and make the necessary changes.

One of those changes was transforming the way I work. In the past few months, I worked for 8 to 10 hours a day. I often skipped taking walks and working out, and by the end of this period, I slipped up into emotional eating. I was eating away my emotions so that I could focus on work. But work itself became a way of running from my feelings also.

Now I'm only working to a maximum of 4 hours a day. And I've been way more productive. And have a lot more energy left after a workday so that I can invest more in my family, friends, self-care, and other passions I pursue.

Say again?Yep, you can achieve more by doing less.

I'm getting MORE done in 4 hours than I did in 8 to 10 hours. I'm way more focused and productive that way. And because of this, I now have time, daily, to work out, meditate (250 days in a row, and counting), going for 5-km walks, study, cook fresh meals and catching up with friends.

Book tips:Essentialism by Greg McKeown, writing about doing what's essential, and The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks, writing about "Einstein time".

I work in two blocks of two hours:

Two hours in the morning;

Two hours in the afternoon.

It's simple, and because of having less time to get things done, I learned how to prioritize and eliminate unnecessary distractions like Facebook, for instance.

That's what happens when you work long hours. You get that feeling of having time. And before you know it, you're scrolling down timelines for hours at a time, leaving you with the impression that you don't have time after all (because you were not that productive after all).

Therefore you get the idea you need even more time, work longer hours, and feel even more guilty when you take a moment to relax or do nothing.